Social Media Platforms and Their Impact on Mental Health

Social Media Impact on Mental Health
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Social Media Impact on Mental Health
Today's world has evolved, with technology taking center stage in the evolution process. Technology tools are present today and are used for communication, research, and even entertainment. An example of technological advancement is the presence of social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Social media platforms have caused revolutionization in terms of how individuals interact, communicate, and perceive the world (Braghieri et al., 2022). When people get their social media accounts, little is shared about the advantages and disadvantages of social media and how to use social media platforms. Each individual uses social media platforms in a manner that satisfies their needs. The pervasive use of these social media platforms has raised significant concerns regarding negative impacts that arise from it, such as addiction.
Social media is addictive, and when users become addicted, they are faced with detrimental effects on mental health. Social media addiction affects an individual's mental health by triggering a wide range of psychological and emotional disturbances. For example, when there is excessive use of social media, an individual gets heightened anxiety and depression and starts having feelings of loneliness or even isolation. These happen because of the constant comparisons one makes with others they have seen on social media platforms. Moreover, having unrealistic standards and a fear of missing out (FOMO) causes mental health disturbances (Keles et al., 2020). The addictive nature of social media platforms disrupts sleeping patterns, increases stress levels, and lowers a person's self-esteem. It is in this addiction that other behaviors are reinforced, such as behaviors that are akin to substance abuse. The brain chemistry is changed, developing a dependency on substance abuse,